Chapter 18

Sage

From the look in Jodah's eyes—and the rigid line of his cock against my belly—I can guess what might happen when we get back to his tent and it isn't him drawing my picture on a rock. Arousal burns through me, and that glowing light around me brightens. I'm the only one who appears to notice it. He hasn't acknowledged its existence and neither had Nellora. Which makes me believe I'm hallucinating its presence.

Hand in hand, we walk away from the healer's tent and weave our way through the village toward his. Torches burn outside of homes and reflect off the snow that covers the ground. Low murmurs filter through hide walls, and shadows move about as a few tribespeople patrol or head to their destination. The towering hills that stretch out beyond the village are nothing but a black, inky mass that splits the sky like a void. The faint calls of mellenje come from the forest just past the entrance, along with the sounds of other woodland creatures that call it home.

The pungent sweet scent of the burning fires within the dwellings tickles my nose. It's a far cry from the sights, sounds, and smells of New St. Louis with its sky trains, blinding lights, and the sterile air that should have been pleasing, but wasn't, because it had no odor whatsoever. There was no soft scent of nenuphar blooms or the mint fragrance I associate with Jodah. Earth's air—at least in the upper tier—smelled like…nothing.

I will continue to cherish everything about Tavikh knowing there's always the chance I'll have to leave. The thought is never far from my mind.

We reach Jodah's tent and he draws aside the flap. He steps back and motions for me to enter first. It looks just as it did the other night when I was in here. Only this time, I take more than a passing glance at the pallet of furs near the back wall. My mate comes up behind me and wraps his arms around my waist. I lean against him and savor the strength and solid feel of him. We stand there, just like this, for a minute, neither saying a word. The only sound is the crackling of the small fire in the center.

Slowly, I turn so we're face-to-face. My hands go to his chest, and I carefully trace the scars that are forming along it. I shudder thinking that Jodah could have been taken from me. But that warm glow radiating off me—the one that I'm most likely imagining—grows warm and comforting. I sink even more into his embrace.

"I've never met anyone like you before." Someone so kind and seemingly perfect.

"Because none of them were your mate," he answers.

I raise my head to meet his gaze. "Maybe you're right."

"Of course I am." Jodah grins with a hint of mischief.

I love this playful side of him. Back on Earth, I was always surrounded by stoic and serious people. The scientists were more interested in their experiments than they were in socializing. The only time I ever laughed was with Makayla. Unable to resist, I rise up on my tip-toes and press my mouth to his. With only a single touch, he opens and I slide my tongue inside. He lets me lead at the beginning, but soon, I give up control to him.

Jodah deepens our connection and my breasts are crushed against his chest. There's the increasingly familiar sensation of his tail wrapping around my waist and the tip of it caresses the back of my upper thigh. I part my legs slightly in invitation, but he doesn't acknowledge it. Instead, he continues his innocent torment. The kiss grows more heated and arousal pumps through my veins. My chest tingles and warms and the interior of the tent brightens as though someone turned a dimmer switch up another notch.

Jodah draws back, not releasing his hold on me. "I would like to see you."

My breath hitches and I take a small step away, not misunderstanding the hope in his eyes. Without taking my gaze off him, I reach down and bring my shirt up and over my head. Through the thin bra I'm wearing, my hardened nipples are aching and visible. He reaches out and with a fingertip traces one turgid peak. "What is this chest covering called?"

I have to clear my throat before I can respond. "It's a bra."

He cocks his head in an adorable way and his brow bones shift like they do when he doesn't understand something. "What purpose does it serve? Is your outer chest covering not enough?"

My lips twitch. "It's meant to support my breasts."

"Is it because they are larger than the other females?" Jodah's gaze drops to my chest again.

Why am I not surprised he noticed? "Yes."

"The other females must envy you then."

I sputter out a laugh. "Why would you think they'd envy me? Having big boobs isn't necessarily a great thing."

He raises his eyes to mine again. "They are a pleasure center, are they not? You enjoyed when I touched you before. Would not having these ‘big boobs' bring you more pleasure than a female who possesses smaller ones?"

"It doesn't really work that way." I'm fighting hard not to smile. "Some breasts are more sensitive than others, whether they're large or small. Mine just happen to be on the more sensitive side."

Jodah studies me quietly. His gaze flicks upward and then back down. "May I touch you again?"

"Yes." Why do I find it so sexy that he asks? "Since we are mates, you are free to touch me any time. If I'd rather you didn't, I'll let you know."

He nods and palms my breast again, this time, though he uses both hands. A shiver runs through me and my clit throbs. The heat in my chest gets hotter, but it doesn't burn. It just sends a warm sensation everywhere. And I mean everywhere. Jodah gently kneads both breasts and while it feels good, I know it can feel better.

"Wait."

As though burned by the steam from a food replicator, his hands jerk away from my body. Not wanting him to think I meant stop, I reach behind and unfasten the hooks. The cotton sags—along with my boobs, although those only slightly thank god—and I pull it the rest of the way off leaving me in only my jeans and shoes. Jodah's gaze zeroes in on my now naked chest while I drop the lingerie to the ground.

When he doesn't move, I prompt him. "You can still touch me. If you want, I mean." Shit, what if seeing me without the bra has turned him off? Maybe I'm too different from the Tavikhi females.

Just as I'm starting to feel self-conscious and my muscles tense to prepare to snatch the thing up and quickly put it back on, Jodah moves. His calloused hands cover my breasts, and he groans.

"I do not know what I imagined you to look like without your chest coverings, but the perfection of your chest mounds surpasses everything I could have thought up." He rolls a nipple between his fingers. "These are yet another color humans possess."

My back arches and I push myself deeper into Jodah's touch. He pinches the swollen nub. Not hard, but just enough to cause a ripple of pleasure through me and a whimper of pleasure to tumble out. My eyes close in ecstasy. I don't orgasm, but good lord, I'm close. "Oh my god."

"Did my mate like that?" His voice is a low rumble that vibrates through me.

Still feeling weak in the knees, I can only mumble something unintelligible and nod. Feeling bold, I let my hand drift downward, skimming across the front of Jodah's thigh until I reach my destination. He jerks beneath my palm and sucks in a sharp breath.

"Is this okay?" Am I moving too fast? From things the girls have said, the Tavikhi males don't tend to have sex with anyone but their keeshla. "I want you to feel as good as I do."

"It is more than okay." His hips rock and I gently stroke him through his hide pants. Wetness seeps through them to dampen my hand. He didn't come already did he?

He caresses my breast again and I completely forget the question. Together we explore and pleasure each other. Jodah adds to the overwhelming sensation when he claims my mouth with his. I'm overloaded with desire. Want. Need. He actually grows harder, lengthening even further, and I clench down imagining him filling me. I want that. More than anything. I slowly break the kiss. He stares down at me with blown pupils and his chest heaves along with mine.

"Will you take me to your furs?"

Jodah freezes. "This is what you want?"

I reach up and caress the side of his handsome face. Whatever light I keep seeing, illuminates his features and reflects off his feline eyes. I don't think that's a hallucination.An impossible thought enters my mind. I shake my head in denial. It can't be. I feel him take a step back as though taking that as my answer, and I blink away the ridiculous idea that took shape to focus on him.

"Yes." I clutch his hands. "Yes, it's what I want. Please."

"You are sure?"

I hate the uncertainty I hear in his tone and that I caused it. I squeeze his hand and stare earnestly at him. "Jodah, there is nothing more in this world that I want than to become your mate in truth. And for you to become mine."

He studies me a moment longer and my heart races while I wait for him to seal our fate. I see the moment he makes his decision and nearly sigh in relief. He walks me to his furs and we stop beside them.

"You will have to guide me. I do not know what will bring you pleasure." He sweeps my hair off my face.

"We can show each other." Reaching down, I unbutton my jeans and slide them—and my panties—off my hips and push them until they puddle around my feet.

I toe off my shoes and step out of my clothes. Jodah's eyes don't leave mine as I reach for his pants next. They are held up with a rope made of sinew. I loosen the knot until the waistband gaps and I draw them down his long and muscular legs. His cock bobs with its weight and I get my first look at it. He's long and thick and oval bumps run down its entire length on both sides. The head flares out like an upside-down umbrella.

To my shock, the center of the bumps part and wetness glistens within them. I jerk my gaze up to meet Jodah's. He must sense my question, because he palms the hard bar. "These are mating nodes. They secrete fluid that is meant to increase our mate's pleasure."

My gaze bounces between him and his cock. "May I touch you?"

He drops his hand and stands proudly without any hint of embarrassment about his nakedness. Not that he has anything to be embarrassed about. My man was certainly blessed by Deeka in the equipment department. I don't have any complaints yet. I reach down and run my finger along the bumps on one side. My fingertip is coated with the fluid. A warm tingling sensation tickles the end of it. I rub my finger and thumb together testing the slick texture and the warmth transfers to my other digit. I understand what Jodah meant by it increasing his mate's pleasure.

I take his hand and gently tug him with me as I lower myself to his pallet of furs. The trust he's showing me makes my heart thump wildly and my belly flip flop, but in a good way. Still holding his hand, I place it on my breast.

"I like being touched here." There's a surge of energy under my skin close to where Jodah touches me. I don't question its presence this time. I still don't believe what my mind is trying to convince me of, but I'll think about it later. Right now, I want my mate to make love to me.